Feedback, experiences, timelines, tips and useful information from people that have recently been through the UK passport application process.
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1st Adult Passport
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Newport
Submission Date:
2022-07-18
Date Received:
2022-07-26
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Very poor, very slow.
Type of Application:
First UK Adult Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-13
Date Received:
2022-08-10
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I can’t really fault the service. I was really worried having read so many people’s experiences on this forum and also in the news, but I was pleasantly surprised when I received a notification of the Application approved well within the 10-week time scale. My experience has been positive so far. Just awaiting the return of the documents now.
Passport printed 12:54am on 9 August 2022
Application approved 2:40pm on 8 August 2022
Documents received 3:22pm on 18 July 2022
Application received 8:01pm on 13 July 2022
Identity details received 8:01pm on 13 July 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 7:49pm on 13 July 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 7:46pm on 13 July 2022
Application submitted 7:46pm on 13 July 2022
Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-02
Date Received:
2022-08-09
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Amazing
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-04
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied for standard passport late Thursday evening online, old passport sent Monday and received today.
Constantly kept in touch with process by email and text.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-05
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Extremely Fast Service – Online Adult Renewal took less than 6 days!
I took photos in a PhotoMe Photo Booth and got a code to enter into the online Passport Renewal application system which automatically loaded the photos.
I posted my Old Passport using Royal Mail Special Delivery.
I received helpful updates by email and text informing me of next steps (e.g. send your Old Passport) and progress updates.
I applied in the evening on Friday 5 August 2022 and received the New Passport in the morning on 11 August 2022.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-07-31
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Although concerned about comments regarding waiting times, have been pleasantly surprised with efficient service.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Peterborough
Submission Date:
2022-08-02
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Contrary to my expectations, my passport only took 10 days to be renewed! It was an online application and I sent the old passport the following day. I signed up for the free text updates so that I could see my application progressing through the system. Brilliant – very pleased!
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2022-07-28
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
Generally it was quick applied 28th July, sent passport 29th July
they received 1st August it was approved 9th , printed 10th arrived 11th.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
London
Submission Date:
2022-08-07
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Could not get any 121 appointments for a fast track. So had to take chance with standard process. Based on this site it was showing 25 days turnaround and I had 27 before the holiday.
So took the change applied online Sunday, new passport back by Thursday , 4 days for an adult renewal.
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-05-16
Date Received:
2022-08-03
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Awful. If you need it with any sort of urgency, don’t believe the 10 week period as its false. I would recommend paying the extra for the 5 day service if you need it to travel at all in the next year. It took me 3 weeks of being on the phone everyday in the lead up to my wedding and honeymoon in order to make any progress.
Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Passport Office:
Not Sure
Submission Date:
2022-07-27
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
4 Star – Easy
Comments:
My experience was really very easy, the only slight hitch being while at the Post Office where I did a check and send application. The post office staff were exceptionally helpful, but their new system is clearly creating some issues for them, the main one being that the system did not provide them with the correct fee and it took nearly an hour to get through to their own helpline to resolve the difficulty. However, it was worth the wait because I could then be sure that the application had been completed correctly. Despite them telling me that their current instructions were to advise a waiting time of something like 15 weeks (I’m not 100% sure it was that, it may have been more), my passport was processed very quickly and received today. At each stage I received an email informing me of progress made.
Because my application was sent via the Post Office (the main branch in Penzance, Cornwall), I’m not sure which Passport office processed it.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-04-03
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
There isn’t enough time in the day to write how awful this application has been.
19 weeks it’s taken, we applied for the passport when it was 5 weeks, then they changed it to 10 and then 19 weeks later we have it.
Total lack of communication, felt like I was being laughed at by everyone I spoke to.
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Passport Office:
Liverpool (Bootle)
Submission Date:
2022-08-29
Date Received:
2022-08-11
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Passport photos taken 28/07;
Online application made and identities confirmed 29/07;
Three expired passports posted together in one envelope 1st class signed for Friday 29/07 and received by passport office on Monday 01/08.
Kept up-to-date via SMS and email.
New passports printed 09/08.
New adult and child passports received today 11/08 via normal secure TNT delivery.
Awaiting return of old expired passports via normal delivery.
Overall, it was a very easy experience for me as I didn’t renew passports when they expired in 2021. I didn’t rush renewing them either. It was the first time to do it all online as I have always done a paper format so that was daunting but it was actually okay and very quick once I started the online application. Speedy service.
Blue passport for me again! First time for the children as they’ve always had the burgundy one.
Now to find an opportunity to use them.
For one of the child photos, it did raise a query as the online application service said it couldn’t distinguish the background and the applicant outline clearly enough. After checking the particular message on the internet, I did request for the passport service to use that photo as we had ours all done at the same time and it had gone through a check for passport use before being sold to us. (I used Timpsons – very good service there too.)
Overseas Passport Application
Type of Application:
Adult Renewal (Overseas Application)
Passport Office:
Durham
Submission Date:
2022-06-06
Date Received:
2022-06-06
Overall Experience:
1 Star – Very Stressful
Comments:
Please note we have not yet received the passport back yet but wanted advice
Can anyone please advice me, we applied for an adult passport renewal on June 6th and have not as yet received anything. I’ve telephoned the passport line on numerous occasions and have had so many various stories. I was told by 5 different people on different occasions that they would expedite the passport because we are due to travel next week. When I called this morning I was told that they don’t expedite overseas applications and there was nothing they could do to help.
Does anyone had experience of an overseas application being expedited?
Basically they told me there was no way we could travel as the passport hasn’t been accepted yet.
PWT Editor: If you have had a similar experience or can offer advice please leave message in comments
Application history
StatusDate
Application approved 2:32pm on 12 August 2022
Identity details received 5:40pm on 2 July 2022
Email sent to person confirming your identity 5:31pm on 2 July 2022
Ask someone to confirm your identity 5:20pm on 2 July 2022
Application submitted 5:20pm on 2 July 2022
Lost and stolen app
I’m an overseas applicant too, on a similiar timeline. I applied on-line June. 9, doc sent June. 13, arrived in Liverpool June. 16 according to Fedex, logged onto the HMPO system as docs recieved June. 21. It is true overseas applications cannot be expedited for travel purposes, but can be if required to stay legally compliant, ie for visa purposes. I was also told whenI chased my application alas to late for me that for an overseas applicant if ones passport has validity left left there is no need to return it as applications are taking so long. I was not offered this option when I applied and have since raised a complaint with HMPO at not be offered this option as this would helped me enormously.
(Overseas application) I applied for the renewal of my British passport from South Africa on the 25th of March 2022. They received my documents on the 23rd of May…. ages after the courier service had said they arrived. I have tried calling, emailing, and waiting on the online help service.. NOTHING! There is no ‘human’ that you can speak to on the other side and I have only received automated messages. I was originally set to travel on the 17th of July but have postponed my flights to the 13th of September but I am yet to receive any updates. Hopefully, I don’t have to postpone again. I thought I had given myself more than enough time. I have no idea where to turn next. It has been an incredibly disappointing and stressful experience.
(Overseas application) If you have to travel urgently I think you can go to the embassy of your country and apply for an emergency passport. I did it when my passport was held by the US embassy for a travel visa.